Stropping machine



Apr. 117, 11923.

C. E. SMITH S'TROPPING MACHINE Filed July 1919 2- Sheets-Sheet l/are/zie Z 502/777,

Apr 17, 1923.

C. E. SMITH STROPPING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5 PatentedApr. 1'7, 1923.

.PTET FFICE.

CLARENCE E. SMITH, 0F IEOBIA, ILLINOIS.

STROPPING MACHINE.

Application filed July 3, 1919. Serial No. 308,416.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE E. SMITH, citizen of the United States,residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Stropping Machines; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to razor strops. An object of the invention is tofurnish a strop of the automatic type for strop-ping safety razorblades, though the so-called ordinary razor may be likewiseaccommodated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strop that can be usedto impart a diagonal stropping to the razor blade.

Still another and important object is to furnish a boX or container forholding the stropping mechanism, into which to introduce the blade to besharpened.

Another object is to construct a stropping device in a very simple andcompact form that can be operated with ease and sureness.

Besides these objects the invention consists in a novel arrangement ofparts, as will be pointed out herein, aided by the acconr panyingdrawings forming part of this application, and which show the preferredembodiment of my invention, although changes may be made therein as maybe found desirable without departing from the spirit and intent of saidinvention.

Figure 1 shows my invention in perspective.

Figure 2 is a plan of the same, parts of which are broken away to showinterior structures.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation thereof.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing certain parts of thatfigure much enlarged.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional elevation of the invention also muchenlarged.

Figure 6 shows in perspective a part of the containing case. or box andsome of the interior parts, together with a razor blade and a carriertherefor.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a bladecarrier.

Figure 8 is a plan, in detail, of certain operating parts.

Figure 8' is a side elevation of part of the same.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a part of theinvention, much enlarged.

Figure 10 shows in perspective a tilting or rocking blade-support.

In the figures, 1 represents a long, thin. narrow case of any desiredmaterial, preferably metal, which may consist of separable parts orotherwise constructed.

The opposite narrow walls, or what may be termed the side walls, of thecase are each provided at each end with a grooved portion 2 lyingopposite one another for receiving the trunnions of a pair of rollers 3,the grooves being preferably closed at their outermost ends and open attheir opposite or inner ends.

A frame comprising a forked-member 4 engages the trunnions of eachroller and said frames are connected slidably by means of a reach 5extending from one of them into a socket in the other, as clearly shownin Figure 8.

A belt 7 of stropping material, such as leather, is trained over therollers and an expanding spring 8 interposed between part of the reach 5and the loop 6 serves to keep the belt drawn tightly or at least to takeup all slack and preventing sagging thereof. Extending longitudinally ofone of the broad sides of the case, or what may be termed its top, is aslot 9. Beneath the said top, consequently beneath the slot, is onestretch of belt to which a finger-piece 10 is attached, which slideswithin the slot, preferably having oppositely disposed portions to slideupon the outer surface of the top,

as shown in Figure 5.

11 indicates a U-shaped member pivoted to the opposite broad side orbottom of the case at 12, Figures 4 and 5. Mounted in the end portionsof said member 11 is a support 13 for a blade to be sharpened. Thissupport consists of a tube split in half for the greater part of itslength. It is supported at its ends in said yoke and adapted to rocktherein, and extends between the stretches of the belt as shown. 14: isa carrier for the blade to be sharpened, which is adapted to enter thesupport 13 in a snug taper fit. Said carrier comprises, for example, twoparts semicircular in cross section pivoted together near one of theirends, being constructed after the manner of a pair of pincers wherebythey will clamp a blade between them, and one of them may have a pair ofstuds 14 extending in the direction of the other to enter the usualperforations found in one or two of the common types of razor blade. InFigures 6 and 7 the blade is shown clamped in the carrier, and in Figure10 the carrier is shown inserted in the rocking support, the blade beingshown in two extreme positions in broken lines as it rocks with saidcarrier. and support.

One of the ends of the U-shaped member is slotted at 14 to receive theblade endwise, and the place of separation of the tubular support isadapted to register therewith, as in Figure 6. The blade may be insertedto the stropping position through the slot when clamped by the carrier,the taper of the latter resulting in a firm grip on the blade as saidcarrier is pushed home. It is to be observed that the case 1 isfurnished with an opening 14 clearly shown in Figure 1, to admit theblade and carrier.

Depending from the support 13 is a bail 15 provided with a slot 16through which extends a vertically disposed pin 17 extending from thereach 5, most clearly illustrated in Figure 11. The pin is allowed freeplay in said slot, being adapted to rock the support, as will beexplained in the operation.

18 indicates four pressure receiving plates extending between the endsof the member 11 lying parallel to the axis of said support 13, each inposition to receive pressure of the blade upon it with the stretches ofthe belt interposed. Figure 4.

Particular attention is directed to the said belt or stropping element7. As a convenient manner of constructing it so as to keep its stretchessnugly drawn and in order that it'can be readily operated, there isattached within the belt a stretch of belt 7 separate from the mainportion. This is skived at its ends, but one of which ends is shown,Figure 9, so that said ends will pass over the rollers with perfectfreedom of movement. This stretch 7 answers as one of the stroppingportions and lies between the support 13 and the upper pair of pressurereceiving plates 18, Figure 4:. being adapted to travel in cont ct withthe latter, while the other or lower stretch lies between said supportand the lower pair of plates and travels upon said plates as seen insaid Figure 4. That portion of the main belt to which the fingerpiece 10is attached is free to flex as the latter moves in a straight line uponthe easing 1 and imparts movement to the entire belt and is the soleoperating means for the stropping operation except as to the diagonalstroke, as will now be explained.

The frames 4: being held elastically apart by the spring 8 maintain thebelt at a snug stretch and the grooves of the portions 2 are of suchlength that the rollers and the frames as a whole may have a slightlongitudinal movement with respect to the easing 1, the closed ends ofthe grooves limiting this movement in either direction, although otherlimiting means may be used if de sired.

hen the finger-piece 10 is moved, the slight longitudinal movement isthe first action to take place, resulting in rocking the support 13 dueto the connection of the reach 5 with the bail 16. This rocking movementmoves the two edges of the blade against the opposite belt stretches.which in lying against the plates 18 will take the.

pressure of said blade, the edges being thus held in intimate contactwith the stropping. surfaces. In the continuing movement of thefinger-piece the belt is carried along away from the edges in the properdirection. until the finger-piece reaches the end of its slot 9.whereupon by reversing the movement the frames will be shifted in theother direction, reversing the position of the blade. the belt againtraversing the edges at their opposite sides. I

This may be done as fast or slow as de= sired. the action being entirelypositive.

Naturally there is less resistance to the movement of the rollers alongthe grooves in the portions 2 than that of turning with. the belt. androcking of the blade is assured before the belt begins to travel, sothat the greatest possible stropping surface is kept in contact with thebladeedges in said travel.

The finger grasping portions of the carrier 1 1 extend from the casing 1so that a finger of the hand holding the device may be placed upon it.Since the member 11 is pivoted. to the casing wall as explained, it maybe swung backward and forward by the finger. thus swinging the blade sothat its edges will lie at an angle to the direction of belt travel andreceive the desired diagonal stroke as the fingers of the other handmove the finger-piece 10 back and forth.

In order that the swinging motion may be imparted, thelongitudinallyextending slot 16, before mentioned, is provided in theball 15. This permits free action and said slot 1s sufficiently wide topermit the rock ng movement without binding of the engaging parts.

The entire mechanism is enclosed in a closed casing quite small in sizeso that it may be carried with the usual compact shaving outfit, and inbeing thus enclosed the strop and the parts carrying it are protectedfrom dust.

The member 11 may swing as far as necessary, and any means may be usedto limit that swing, the upright end portions being sufficiently spacedfrom the edges of the belt for this purpose. Said ends must, of course.also be spaced from the walls of the casing 1 to admit of the requiredswlng, but this is evident to the practical person.

What I claim is-:-

1. A stropping machine including in its construction a support, a membermounted on the same, a rocking part mounted iii said member adapted forcarryin a blade to be sharpened, a frame operativel y engaging therocking part capable of movement in opposite directions in a given planeadapted to rock said part on its axis, an endless bandlike stroppingmember carried by the frame adapted for a reciprocating movement withrespect thereto and in each reversal of its movement causing themovement of the frame with respect to the support for rocking the saidrocking part, and a finger-piece connected with the stropping member forreciprocating the same and adapted for movement in a single given plane.

2. A stropping machine including in its construction a support, a membermounted on the same, a rocking part, including a bail, mounted in saidmember adapted for carrying a razor blade to be sharpened, a frameoperatively engaging the rocking part capable of movement in oppositedirections in a given plane adapted to rock said part on its axis, astropping belt carried by and adapted for a reciprocating movement withrespect to the frame and in the reversal of its direction of travelcausing the movement of said frame with respect to the first describedmember whereby to rock said rocking part, and a pressure receiving platelying adjacent the outer side of each stretch of the belt opposite thepoint of contact of the blade therewith.

3. A stropping device including in its construction a support, a membermounted on the same, a rocking part mounted in said member adapted forcarrying a razor blade, a frame of two parts operatively engaging therocking part capable of movement in opposite directions in a given planeadapted to rock said part on its axis, a roller mounted at opposite endsof the frame, a stropping belt trained over the rollers and a springinterposed between the parts of theframe adapted for maintaining tensionon the belt.

4:. A stropping machine including in its construction a support, amember mounted on the same, a rocking part mounted in said memberadapted for carrying a razor blade, a frame of two parts slidablyrelated operatively engaging the rocking part and capable of movement asa whole in opposite directions in a plane perpendicular to the axis ofthe rocking part, a roller at opposite ends of the frame, a stroppingbelt trained over the rollers with their stretches lying at oppositesides of said rocking part, a spring interposed between the parts of theframe constantly maintaining the belt under tension, and a manuallyoperated part attached to the belt adapted for reciprocating the beltand simultaneously moving the frame in the initial movement of saidbelt.

5. A stropping machine including in its construction a support, a memberpivoted on the same adapted to be swung in a single given plane, arocking blade-carrying part journaled in said member, its axis ofmovement being perpendicular to the pivot of the member, a stroppingbelt and a mounting therefor, said belt adapted for movement in a planeperpendicular to the said pivot of the member.

(S. A stropping machine including in its construction a closed casing, amember pivotally mounted therein, a rocking part mounted in the membercapable of holding a razor-blade, a frame operatively connected to thesame and adapted for movement to rock the latter, a stropping partmounted on the frame adapted for movement perpendicularly to the axis ofmovement of the part, and means extending outside the casing by which toswing said member.

7. A stropping machine including in its construction a Hat containingcase, a rocking blade-carrying part, a support for the latter in saidcase, a frame adapted to reciprocate, the same being operativelyconnected to the blade-carrying part for rocking the same, a stroppingbelt, a roller mounted in each end of the frame for carrying the belt,and a finger-piece attached to the belt for operating the same, therebeing a slot in the wall of the case through which said finger-pieceextends.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE E. SMITH.

